Suspect Makes Initial Appearance

April 18, 2013

CELINA — The alleged gunman in the Grube double homicide made his initial appearance in a Mercer County courtroom Wednesday.

Flanked by his attorney Donna Post, Trevin M. Sanders, 19, looked down at the defense table for much of the approximately hourlong hearing in Mercer County Juvenile Court as Judge Mary Pat Zitter read the complaint against him. Sanders is accused of shooting and killing Robert Grube, 70, and daughter his Colleen Grube, 47, in November 2011.

Zitter read through the charges — all 27 of them — during the hearing. Zitter also explained the possible penalties for each, which ranged from a year to incarceration until age 21 because Sanders was 17 at the time of the alleged crimes.

A motion to have the case transferred to the criminal division is pending in front of Zitter. As a result, Zitter also read the possible penalties if Sanders stands trial on the charges as an adult — which ranged up to life in prison.

Sanders faces a slew of charges, including murder, involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and theft. Zitter continued Sanders’ bond, which was previously set at $1 million cash.

Following the reading of charges, Post entered a denial to the charge on behalf of her client. Zitter then set the matter for a probable cause hearing.

Sanders was charged in March in connection to the Grube homicides. He was serving a prison sentence in Indiana at the time he was served with the complaint on unrelated charges.